Improved car bell



1. SWEENEY.

Car Bell.

I No. 60,083

Patentd Nov. 27, 1866.

N. PETERS FHDTO-LIYHOGRAPNER. WASNINGTON. D C,

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IMPROVED (an BELL.

JAMES SWEENEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. Letters Patent No. 60,083, dated November 27, 1866.

SPECIFICATION.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JAMES SWEENEY, of No. 3 Dutch street, in the city, county,and State ofi New York, have invented anew and improved Car Bell; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention, the line :0 2:, fig. 2, indicating the plane of section. i

Figure 2 is an inverted plan of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a car bell, which is put up in an inverted position so that the dust and dirt readily discharge therefrom, and the water is not liable to freeze in and to injureit, by lodging in the same. The edge of the bell against which the hammer strikes, is chamfered off so as to produce a proper surface for the hammer to strike against,- said hammer being provided with a lip in the middle of its helm or shank which, by coming in contact with the bracket supporting the bell as the hammer flies up, produces a sudden check, whereby the front end of the helm is caused to spring, and the hammer strikes the bell without resting against its surface.

A represents that portion of the roof of a railroad car to which the bell, B, is attached. This bell issupported by a bracket, 0, which is suspended froni the roof, A, and from which rises a pin or stud, a, to theupper end of which the bell is secured in an inverted position, or with its open and down as shown in fig- 1 of the drawing. D is the hammer, the shank or helin of which is connected to the bracket 0, by a pivot b, which passes through suitable ears 0 and from the lower edge of said hammer projects a lug d, to which the strap E, is attached. By pulling this strap, the hammer is made to strike the bell, and in order to prevent the same remaining in contact with the surface of the bell, its helm is provided with a lip e, which comes. in contact with the bracket 0, before the hammer touches the bell.

When the strap is pulled, the momentum of the hammer causes its helm to spring sufliciently to allow said hammer to strike the bell, and immediately after the stroke, the hammer falls back, leaving the bell free to sound. The edge of the bell is chamfered ofi' sothat a broad suface, f, is formed, against which the hammer strikes. By means of this surface the sound of the bell is materially improved, and all jarring of the sound is avoided.

The principal advantage of this invention, however, is based on the position of the bell. The car bells, as now nscd, are put up with their open ends up, so that dust and water collect in the same, whereby their sound is impaired, and in winter-time, if the water freezes in the hell, it is liable to produce a crack, and to render the same entirely useless. By placing the bell in an inverted position, all these disadvantages are avoided; the dirt and water collecting on and in the bell are caused to drop oil by the vibrations of the bell itself, so that the sound of said bell remains clear and unimpaired. v i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,' and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The bell B, having the edge chamfered as described, in combination with the frame C, and hammer D, provided with the cars a 0, lug d, and projections c, the whole being constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMARA, ALEX. F. Ronnn'rs. 

